The Heart Test You Can Do at Home (Easy!)

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted January 9, 2021

Dear Reader, 

Have you ever wondered how your heart is doing?  

It’s an important question. 

Knowing the health of your ticker is crucial, BUT the thought of making an appointment… sitting in some crazy, claustrophobic scanning machine…. or getting injected with some dye, can be a lot for anyone – especially given our current environment!  

The great news is there’s a simple test you can take at home that will give you a decent snapshot of how your heart is…  

The European Society of Cardiology has developed a stair test that will tell you a lot about the health of your heart.   

All you need is a flight of stairs and a stopwatch.   

Here’s what you do:  

Climb four flights of stairs (that means 60 steps) and see how long it takes you.  

If you can do it in less than a minute and a half that means you’re in good heart health!  

Now, it’s worth noting that there are a few problems with this “at home” test.  

The first is in the USA, a flight of stairs is most often 13 steps (sometimes 12, sometimes 14) AND almost no one has a continuous flight of four stairs at home.  

SO, let’s make it a true at-home test. 

Walk just one flight of stairs (don’t worry how many steps, the distance up is about the same in most houses) and time that one flight: it should take you 22 seconds or less.  

NOW: if you are close to 22 seconds, that is when you should seek out a longer flight of stairs (At a mall? At an office building?) and then try the four flights of stairs (once again, ignoring how many steps, but just counting flights).  

If it takes you more than 1.5 minutes (90 seconds) then you should consider making an appointment at your doctor’s.  

Of course, you have to take in consideration the fact that diseases such as arthritis, asthma, COPD may play a role in your stair climbing ability.   

Either way, if you want to live longer and healthier, here are a few of my favorite tips.  

• Fish Oil: Studies have shown that Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish oil) can reduce heart disease by up to 52%. Fish oils work by reducing inflammation and softening up arteries so that they stay flexible. I suggest you take between 1,000 and 3,000 milligrams a day.  
• CoQ10 (CoenzymeQ10): This antioxidant/enzyme is found throughout our bodies and is used for energy production. Since our heart is one of the most energy-hungry organs in our bodies, it needs CoQ10.  But CoQ10 goes beyond that, it is also a powerful antioxidant that works both inside and outside the cells. CoQ10 has been shown to lower inflammation, reduce blood clots, and help prevent skipped beats (like arrhythmias or atrial fibrillation).  
• Vitamin C: Remember that we are one of a few mammals that cannot produce their own vitamin C. If you don’t supplement, you don’t get enough of this vitamin, so add it to your list.   

• Antioxidants: There are many antioxidants to choose from like vitamins A, C, E, and others, but I prefer the plant phytonutrients such as carotenoids, polyphenols and flavonoids for great antioxidant protection. Examples include: green tea extract – called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), red wine extract, pycnogenol, olive leaf extract, curcumin, and others.  

P.S. In order to fully take care of your heart health, you need to know about this so-called “healthy habit” that’s actually a WRECKING BALL for your heart! Get all of the details, here. 

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND